Governing mechanism for turbines.



R. H. RICE & J. G. GALLAN. eovmmm'e Mncmmsm FOR TURBINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1907.

Patented Dec. 26, 1911.

Inventors: 'Richar'd H.Ri'ce John G.Ca|lan,-

wltnesses'.

R. H. RICE & J. G. GALLAN. GOVERNING MECHANISM FOR TURBINES 1,01 3,061Patented Dec. 26, 1911.

. 3 BHEET8SHEET a.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1907.

IIIIIIIlIl/ I/lllllllllll l nventor' sz Richard H.F\ice,

WitneSSJeS: I

' JohnG.Callan,

coLumBlA PLANQGRAPH cc.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD H. RICE, OF LYNN, AND JOHN G. CALLAN, OF NAHANT, MASSACHUSETTS,

ASSIGNORS TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

GOVERNING MECHANISM FOR TURBINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that We,R-ICHARD H. Rion and JOHN G. CALLAN, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State ofMassachusetts, and at Nahant, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts,respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGoverning Mechanism for Turbines, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to governing mechanisms for elastic fluidturbines having one or more valves, and more especially to those havinga plurality of valves which are successively actuated by mechanicalmeans in response to a speed governor.

The object of our invention is to provide a governing mechanlsm which issimple 1nconstruction and effective and reliable in operatlon.

For a better understanding of our invention, attention is called to thespecification and the claims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one of the embodiments ofour invention, Figure l is a view in end elevation of a turbine equippedwith our improved governing means; Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinalsection of the valve gear and its actuating mechanism; Fig. 3 is a view,par tially in section, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2; Figs. 1, 5 and 6 aredetail views of the coupling for uniting the parts of the governorshaft, Figs. 4 and 5 being sections on the lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Fig. 6;and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an oil scoop.

1 indicates the casing of the turbine containing a wheel 2 mounted onthe shaft 3 and provided with one or more rows of buckets 4. When morethan a single row of buckets is provided on the wheel for abstractingthe energy of the motive fluid by successive operations, intermediatebuckets 5 are provided. Steam or other elastic fluid is delivered to thebuckets by the nozzles 6, the latter being of the sectionalized type,having a plurality of discharge passages, which passages maybe expandingor non-expanding in character. The nozzle proper is attached to a plate7, the said plate being bolted to the casing of the turbine. Surroundingthe plate 7 is a valve chest 8 which is bolted to the casing of themachine. In this valve chest are valves 9 arranged to open and closetiary shaft 19.

the passages 10 communicating with the nozzle passages. Each of thesevalves may control one or more of the passages. Mounted I or wall 11.The outer end of the valve stem is connected to a cross-head 15, whichcrosshead is provided with a block 16 on the upper side. The cross-headsare adapted to be actuated by dogs 17 that are mounted on eccentrics 18driven by the eccentric or ter- As the shaft rotates, it causes the dogs17 to constantly move toand-fro with a certain number of strokes perunit of time. Under certain conditions the forward end of the dog willengage the block and open the valve 9, and under other conditions, theheel of the dog will engage the block and close the valve, the action ofthe dogs on the valves being controlled by the speed governor, as willappear hereinafter.

In order to obtain the necessary power to actuate the valvessuccessively and also to drive the speed governor, the followingmechanism is provided: Mounted on the main shaft 3 of the turbine is aworm 20 meshing with a worm wheel (not shown), mounted on a verticallydisposed shaft 22. The worm wheel is inclosed by a casing 23 forming anextension or enlargement on the side of the pillow-block 24:. The casingis divided into two parts, the upper part being removable with the capof the-pillow-block, while the lower part is integral with the mainportion of the pillow -block. The worm Wheel is arranged to rotate in abath of oil. Situated directly above the shaft 22 and in axial alinementtherewith, is a shaft 28 having a suitable bearing carried by thebracket 12. In order to prevent relative distortion between the bracketand its connected parts and the shaft 22 from afiecting the operation ofthe governing mechanism and also to facilitate assembling anddisassembling, a somewhat flexible coupling is provided between theshafts 22 and 28, comprising for example an intermediate shaft section29 and a pair of tubular members 80 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) of rectangularcross-section, one end of each member receiving the squared end of ashaft and also of the intermediate shaft section 29. The tubular membersclosely embrace the squared ends of the shafts on both sides, while aslight clearance is provided at the ends, the clearance at one end ofthe member being displaced 90" from that at the other end so as tocompensate for any lack of alinement.

In so far as the operation of our improved mechanism is concerned, theshafts 22 and 28 with the coupling between them may be treated as oneshaft. The coupling is inclosed by a tubular casing member 31 mounted onthe casing 23 and secured thereto by bolts. The upper end of said part31 extends into close proximity to the bearing for the upper end of theshaft 28, but does not contact therewith, so as to avoid the necessityof a fitting at this point. On the shaft 28 is a worm 35 meshing with aworm wheel 36 that is mounted on the short, horizontal shaft 37, Figs. 2and 3. This shaft is mounted in suitable bearings formed in the bracket12, and the shaft openings in the bracket are closed by plugs 38, thelatter serving to prevent the escape of oil from the chamber in thebracket. Mounted on the shaft 37 is a gear 39 meshing with a gear 40keyed to the eccentric shaft 19. It will thus be seen that the eccentricshaft and the dogs mounted thereon will be continuously operated by themain shaft 3 through the worm 20, its worm wheel, shaft 22, intermediateshaft section 29 and coupling, shaft 28, worm 35, worm wheel 36, shaft37 and gears 39 and 4:0. The vertical shaft 28 is also employed to drivea suitable speed governor inclosed in a casing 73, the weights of thegovernor preferably acting by centrif ugal force and inertia to shiftthe eccentric carrying shaft 19 back and forth in an axial direction sothat the proper dog will engage and actuate a valve to satisfy the loadrequirements. A governor of the type described was divided out of thisapplication and is included in a separate applica tion now pending. Bymounting the speed governor on the secondary shaft we decrease thetroubles incident to balancing the same, and also those incident totransmitting motion from the governor to the tertiary shaft controlledthereby. Since the speed of the governor shaft is relatively low itfollows that the lubricating of the parts is simplified. It also followsthat the relative surface speeds of the parts forming the slipjointbetween the rotating and non-rotating parts is low. The low shaft speedalso enables us to use a simple and powerful governor of the centrifugaland inertia type.

As the shaft 28 rotates, the governor weights acting by centrifugalforce and inertia, adjust the valve actuating mechanism to cause one ormore valves to open or close as the occasion demands. The movements ofthe weights are opposed by a suitable spring.

The next step to be considered is how the movements of the speedgovernor are trans mitted to the eccentric carrying shaft 19 foroperating the valve gear. The governor weights are suitably connected toa rod 67 projecting outwardly from the casing 73. On the rod is a thrustcollar mounted in a casing 70, there being a slip-joint between therotating and non-rotating parts. The casing 70 is pivotally mounted inthe forked end of the horizontal arm 71 of a bell crank lever, thelatter having a pivot 72 carried by ball bearings. The lower arm 7 4: ofthe bell crank lever enters the chamber in the bracket 12 and isconnected with the eccentric-carrying shaft 19 by a universal coupling.To the end of the bell crank lever is pivotally connected a forked piece7 5 which is connected to the pin 76. On the end of the pin is a ball 77located in a suitable receptacle located in and attached to the end ofthe tertiary shaft 19. The coupling is located in a chamber formed inthe bracket 12 which is more or less filled with lubricant. In order toprevent foreign matter from getting into the chamber, a cover 7 9 isprovided that is mounted on and moves with the vertical arm 74 of thebell crank lever. This cover is made of such dimensions that the chamberis always covered irrespective of the position of the said lever.

Referring to Fig. 3, 16 represents one of the blocks attached to thecrosshead 15 of the valve stem. This block is provided with projections80 and 81 which govern the action of the reciprocating dog 17 on thesaid blocks 16. The dogs 17 have fairly long hubs on the shaft 19 toafford a good bearing, and the portions engaging the blocks are or maybe of such width that they can move to-and-fro without engaging eitherprojection 80 or 81, in which case, the valve actuated by the dog willopen and close with every revolution of the shaft 19, or they may besomewhat wider than the space between the projections, in which case theprojections will prevent movement of the valve except upon a change inspeed. The dogs are so mounted wit-h respect to the blocks 16 and theirprojections that the valves will open and close successively. In thisfigure, the first two valves are open and the last three valves areclosed.

The dogs and their actuating'mechanism being all inclosed, are fullyprotected from injury from any cause, and being located in a chamberfilled to a greater or less degree with lubricant, freedom of action isassured at all times. In order to insure the proper lubrication ofcertaln of the moving parts, we provide devices 82, Figs. 3 and 7 oncer- Q 65 shaft for successively actuating the valves,

tain of the shafts, each comprising a disk with a projection 83 thereonarranged to form a scoop for conveying lubricant from the periphery ofthe disk to the center where it is fed to a hole or other lubricatingchannel in the shaft or other part. The short horizontal shaft 37 isprovided with a longitudinal channel 84.- that is fed by one of thesescoops so that the bearings at opposite ends are well lubricated.

Assuming the parts to be in the position shown, and the load on theturbine increases this will result in a slight decrease in speed of themain and governor shafts. This means that the governor will pull thehorizontal end of the bell crank lever downward, causing the lower endof the lever to pull the shaft 19, upwardly in Fig. 3, and with it thedogs 17 Under this condition, the third dog from the bottom, Fig. 3,will engage its block 16 and open the third valve. On the other hand, ifthe load decreases and the speed rises the governor will, raise thehorizontal-arm 71 of the bell crank lever, while the lower end will pushthe shaft 19, downwardly in Fig. 3, and cause one of the dogs 17 toengage a block 16 and close a valve.

Steam or other elastic fluid is admitted to the valve chest by a conduitcontaining a stop valve, the casing 87 of which is shown in Fig. 1.

On the lower end of the secondary shaft, and in a casing 88 forming-apart of the lower portion of the pillow-block of the main shaft, is agear pump 89 for supplying lubricant under presure to the linings of thevarious bearings, and to maintain a supply of lubricant in the variouschambers containing moving parts. Where the main shaft passes throughthe pillow-block a disk 90 (Fig. 2) is provided which makes a close fitwith the inclosing ring 91 to prevent the escape of oil.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, we havedescribed the principle of operation of our invention, together with theapparatus which we now consider to represent the best embodimentthereof; but we desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown isonly illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by othermeans.

lVhat we claim as new and desire to secure by Leters Patent of theUnited States, 1s

1. A turbine and its shaft in combination with a plurality of valves forregulating the admission of motive fluid to the turbine, a secondaryshaft arranged at right angles to the turbine shaft and driven thereby,a tertiary shaft arranged transversely to the secondary shaft and driventherefrom, mechanical means operated by the tertiary I and a governordriven by the secondary shaft which controls the action of said means.

2. A turbine and its shaft in combination with a plurality of Valves forregulating the admission of motive fluid to the turbine, a secondaryshaft driven from the turbine shaft which is arranged at one side of theturbine shaft and at right angles thereto, a tertiary shaft driven fromthe secondary shaft which is arranged at right angles to the secondaryshaft, mechanical means driven by the tertiary shaft for successivelyactuating thevalves, a governor driven by the secondary shaft, and aconnection between the governor and the tertiary shaft for moving thelatter to control said means.

3. A turbine and its shaft in combination with a valve regulating theadmission of fluid to the turbine, a secondary shaft driven by theturbine shaft, a tertiary shaft driven by the secondary shaft, anactuator for the valve driven by the tertiary shaft, a governor mountedon the secondary shaft, and a means actuated by the governor for movingthe tertiary shaft endwise to cause the actuator to move the valve.

4. A turbine and its shaft in combination with a valve regulating theadmission of fluid to the turbine, a vertically disposed secondaryshaft, a horizontally disposed tertiary shaft for actuating the valve,worm gearing between the turbine and secondary shafts, gearing betweenthe secondary and tertiary shafts located above the worm gearing, agovernor mounted on the upper end of the secondary shaft, a bell-cranklever actuated by the governor for controlling the action of thetertiary shaft on the valve, and a connection between the bell-cranklever and one end of the shaft.

5. A turbine, a casing therefor, a shaft which projects outwardlythrough the end of the casing, a pillow block for the projecting portionof the shaft, and a steam chest secured to the end of the casing, in

combination with admission valves in said chest, a bracket secured tothe chest and extending outwardly over the pillow block, a tertiaryshaft mounted in the bracket,- mechanical means driven by the tertiaryshaft for successively actuating the valves, a speed governor forcontrolling said means which is mounted on the bracket, and a secondaryshaft for driving the governor and the tertiary shaft which extendsupwardly from the pillow block and is driven by the turbine shaft.

6. A turbine and its shaft in combination with valves for regulating theadmission of motive fluid to the turbine, a secondary shaft driven bythe turbine shaft, a governor mounted on the secondary shaft, a leverconnected to and receiving motion from the governor, an eccentric shaftfor actuating the valves successively, and a connection between thelever and the shaft for controlling the action of the latter on thevalves.

7. A turbine and its shaft, in combination with a valve regulating theadmission of motive fluid to the turbine, a divided secbndary shaftdriven by the turbine, gearing between the shafts, a coupling betweenthe parts of the secondary shaft, a tertiary shaft driven by thesecondary shaft, a dog mounted on the shaft and constantly moved therebyfor opening and closing the valve, a governor driven by the secondaryshaft, and a means actuated by the governor for con trolling the actionof the dog on the valve.

8. A turbine, ashaft therefor and a pillow block, in combination with avalve di rectly regulating the admission of motive fluid to the turbine,a vertically disposed secondary shaft, gearing between the shaftslocated in the pillow block, a chest for the valve attached to theturbine, a bracket sup ported by the turbine, a horizontally disposedtertiary shaft carried by the bracket, gearing carried by the bracketand driving the tertiary shaft, a worm on the secondary shaft fordriving the gearing, a governor driven by the secondary shaft, anactuator for said valve driven by the tertiary shaft, and a connectionbetween the governor and the tertiary shaft for moving said shaft tovary the effect of the actuator upon the valve.

9. A turbine and its shaft in combination with a vertically disposedsecondary shaft driven by the main shaft, a speed governor located atthe top of the secondary shaft, a

tertiary shaft driven by the secondary shaft and located below thegovernor, a plurality of valves controlling the admission of fluid tothe turbine, dogs actuated by the tertiary shaft for opening and closingthe valves successively, and a means actuated by the governor forcontrolling the action of the dogs on the valves.

10. A turbine, with its shaft, in combination with a secondary shaftwhich drives the governor, gearing between the turbine and secondaryshafts, a valve chest attached to the turbine casing, a bracketsupported by 'the turbine, valve-actuating mechanism supported by thebracket, a speed governor and its shaft also supported by the bracket,gearing between the governor-driving shaft and the valve-actuatingmechanism, and a flexible coupling which unites the secondary shaft withthat connected to the speed governor.

11. A turbine with its shaft and pillow 'block, in combination with avalvedirectly controlling the admission of motive fluid to the turbine,a valve-actuating means, a speed governor which regulates the action ofsaid means on the valve, a shaft which drives the actuating means andalso the speed governor, a bracket attached to the turbine whichsupports the valve-actuating mechanism and the governor and extends inthe direction of the pillow-block, a vertically disposed secondary shaftdriven by the main shaft and which in turn drives the shaft that drivessaid means and governor, and gearing between the main and secondaryshafts located in the pillow-block.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this thirtieth day ofApril, 1907.

RICHARD H. RICE.

JOHN G. CALLAN.

WVitnesses:

JOHN A. lWIoMANUs, J r., HENRY O. WVESTENDARP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. G.

